Attorney General Herbert Slatery on Monday notified the parties in the lawsuit that Tennessee will become the 25th state to join the legal challenge filed in federal court in Texas.

Slatery said in a statement that Tennessee "cannot sit on the sidelines of this case, when unlawful directives of this magnitude grant lawful presence and other rights like work permits to such a large number."

Obama traveled to Nashville earlier this month to tout his decision to extend deportation relief and work permits to 4 million immigrants in the U.S. illegally. His action would affect those who have been here more than five years and have children.

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